Acetylene-gas generator.



No. 65|,002. Patented June 5, I900. G. C. WOOD.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

(Application filed Feb. 8, 1899.)

(No Model.)

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ACETYLENE-GAS GENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 651,002, dated June 5, 1900.

Application filed February 8, 1899. Serial No. 704,953- tNo model.)

To in whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that LGEoReE GoLLEY WoD,a citizen of the United States,residing at Applegate, county of Placer, and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Acetylene-Generators; and I hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to the generation of acetylene-gas and to certain improvements in apparatus therefor.

My improvements consist, in connection with other features hereinafter explained, of a series of carbid-containing vessels that are independently, successively, and automatically brought into action and the contents thereof volatilized. v

The objects of my invention are to dispense with the care, risk, and expense of frequently charging the generating apparatus, to preserve the relay charges of carbid from moisture, to prevent the accumulation of moisture in the gas-conducting pipes, and in certain constructive features hereinafter fully pointed out and illustrated in the drawings herewith, forming apartof this specification.

Referring to the drawings and to the numerals of reference marked thereon, Figure I is an elevation, mainly in section, showing an acetylene-gas-generating apparatus constructed according to my invention. Fig, II is a partial elevation of one of the carbid-containing vessels with the side broken away to show the manner of applying the water. Fig.

111 is a top view of one of the carbid-containa ing vessels,showing the water-supply or spraypipe across the top. Fig. IV is a plan view of the top of tank 2.

The main parts of the apparatus, consisting of the gas-generating chambers 1 and 2 and the gas-holding vessels 3, are shown in this case set on a platform 4 to permit the pipe connections to be all shown in one plane. It will be understood, however, that the pipes can all be disposed above the floor-level when that is desirable or necessary.

Referring first to the generating elements of the apparatus, the chambers 1 and 2 are provided with covers 5, held by removable cross-bars 6 and screws 7-, that when forced down close and seal the covers against the escape of gas. In these chambers 1 and 2, which can be of any desired number, I place a tier of carbid-containing vessels-in this case three-in each chamber, numbered consecutively from 8 to 13, as seen in the drawings, Fig. I. These carbid vessels are open at the top and provided with a cross-pipe 14, perforated with small holes on the bottom, so as todistribute water to the carbid 15, as indicated in Fig. II. The carbid-containing vessels 8 to 13 after being charged are inserted from the top by removing the covers 5 and rest one upon the other, as seen in the draw-- ings. Water to volatilize the carbid supplied from a pipe 16, leading from any available service, passes up through the pipe 17 through. a regulating cock or valve 18, then through the pipe 19 and a cook 20 to the chamber 1, or down to the pipe 21, up through the pipe 22 and the cook 23 to the chamber 2, as

I may be required and as hereinafter explained.

An extension of the pipe 21 leads to a wastecock 24, by means of which the chambers 1 and 2 can be drained when the regulatingcock 18 is closed and when the carbid vessels are to be removed and recharged, or for any other purpose.

, Referring next to the gas-holding vessel or gasometer 3, this is of the usual inverted type, sealed at the bottom by means of water contained in the tank 26 and is held and guided vertically as it rises or falls by a central pipe 27 and the sleeve 28. This pipe 27 is rigidly fastened at the bottom of the tank 26 and is surrounded by the open-ended tube or sleeve 28, attached to the top of the gasometer 25, forming a vertical guide for the same. At the top the pipe 27 intersects the gas-conveying pipe 29, so as to drain therefrom any entrained water which passes down this-pipe 27 and at the bottom escapes through an aperture 33 into the tank 26.

32 is the induction-pipe, through which gas enters the gasometer, and 3a the eduction or service pipe, throughwhich the gas is conveyed to the place of its consumption.

35 is a safety or escape pipe surrounded by a pendent sleeve 36, which excludes the gas from the pipe 35 until the gasometer 3rises to its extreme height and the sleeve rises above the surface of the water, when the surplus gas will pass down the pipe and to the open airor other suitable place forits escape.

The regulating cook or valve 18 is opened by a tappet-lever 38 and stem 41, engaged by a rod 39, suspended by a bracket 42, that fits loosely around and slides on the guiding-pipe 27 and rests on top of the gasometer 3 until the rod 39 engages the stem 41 and opens the valve 18, as hereinafter explained. The said regulating-cock 18 is a spring-cock of wellknown construction, or .it may be counterbalanced, as shown at 90, the object being to have it close automatically when pressure on stem 41 is removed.

45 45, Figs. 1 and 4, are shields of thin metal placed in front of the inlets to pipe 14 at the tops of tanks 1 and 2, with a small interval, the object of which is to prevent the water from entering pipe 14 until it rises to the level thereof by the gradual filling of the tank. If it were not for these shields, the water might. shoot from the inlet-pipe 43 of tank 2 into pipe 14 of vessel 13, and thus generate the gas in that vessel prematurely.

The vessels will ordinarily fit each other loosely enough to permit the gas to escape therefrom as fast as generated; but apertures may be provided for the purpose, so that they are higher than pipes 14.

Referring now to the mannerof operating, the vessels 3 to 13 being filled with carbid 15, are placed in the chambers 1 and 2, as seen in Fig. I. The covers 5 are secured, and water is admitted to the chamber 1 from pipes 16 and 17 by opening the cook 20, the regulating-cock 18 being held open by the rod 39 and the gasometer low enough in position to permit this. ater rises in the chamber 1 around the vessel 8, enters the cross-pipe 14, and falls on the carbid 15, causing an evolution of gas, which passes up around the vessels 9 and 1.0, out at the pipe 44, through the check-valve 43 into the pipe 20, and from thence through the pipes 31 and 32 into the gasometer 3. The gasometer 3 then rises by the supply of gas, raising with it the brackets 42 and the rod 39, permitting the cock 18 to close and shut off the water-supply. If the amountot water admitted to the vessel 1 is too great or is continued too long, the gasometer 3 will continue to rise until gas escapes down the waste-pipe 35, as before explained. \Vhen the gasometer 3 descends by the consumption of its contents, the rod 39 again opens the cock 1S, admitting more water to the vessel 1; but as the generation and flow of the gas consumes some time the gasometer 3 will continue to descend, leaving the bracket 42 suspended on the pipe 27 and the rod 39 until the gasometer again rises. \Vhen tho carbid 15 in the vessel 8 is exhausted, water will rise in the chamber 1 and enter the second vessel 9 and then the vessel 10 until all in this chamber is exhausted. The water continuing to rise in the chatnber 1 will pass through the trap 43 into the chamber 2, entering behind the shields 45, that prevent it from passing into the pipe 14 in the vessel 13. The water descends to the bottom of this chamber, fills up the chamber 2, and enters the carbid vessel 11, and so on through the vessels 11, 12, and 13, the same as in the chamber 1, until the carbid in allis exhausted.

hen the chamber 2 is in use, gas therefrom passes through the pipe 25 and the checkvalve 49 to the pipe 29 and on to the gasometer 3, as before described, the trap 43 being sealed against return of the gas to the chamber 1.

The check-valves 4S and 49 both open upward, permitting gas to flow from either of the chambers 1 or 2 to the pipe 29, but not to return, the action being wholly automatic. In this manner it will be seen that the whole operation is automatic and any number of the carbid-containing vessels 8 to 13 can be employed, so that one charging may last for months. When the chambers 1 and 2 are to be drained, the cock 18 is closed and the cooks 20, 23, and 24 are opened. The cocks 46 and 47 are to drain from the gas-conveying pipe any water that collects therein.

Having thus explained the nature and objects of my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an acetylene-gas geuerator,the generating-chambers 1 and 2, a series of successively-acting carbid-containing vessels therein, gas-conveying pipes from the top of these chambers extending over the gas-containing vessels 3 and a branch 27 of said gas-containing pipes extending down through the center of the gas-containing vessel forming a vertical guide for the same and also a drainway for water entrained by, or condensed from, the gas substantially as specified.

2. In an acetylene-gas generator, in combination with the tank 26 and gas-holding vessel 3 the central guiding and draining pipe 27, the sleeve 28 attached to the vessel 3 and moving loosely on the guiding and draining-pipe 27 in the mannersubstantially as specified.

3. In an acetylene-gas generator, the vertically-moving gas-holding Vessel the central guiding and draining pipe 27, the bracket 2 sliding loosely on this pipe, resting by gravity on the top of the vessel 3 and pendent rod 39 adapted to operate the water-regulating valve 18 at some predetermined position of the vessel 3 substantially as specified.

GEORGE OOLLEY \V OOD.

Witnesses:

ALFRED A. Euouis'r, II. SANDERSON.

ICS 

